Blade holder and dispenser



March 24, 1970 P. A. BRAGINETZ 3,502,203

BLADE HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed March 7, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W5, l 43 2 21 20 20c 20b 22- Z2 a 23a 23' March24; 1970 P. A BRAGINETZ 3,502,203

' BLADE HOLDER AND DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Mar'ch'i, 1968 3,502,203 BLADE HOLDER AND DISPENSER Paul A. Braginetz, Augusta County, Va., assignor to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 7, 1968, Ser. No. 711,289 Int. Cl. B65d 83/10, 85/162; A45c 11/20 U.S. Cl. 206-16 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder and dispenser for razor blades of the type having double cutting edges and a central longitudinal slot, the blades being arranged in a stack in alternately longitudinally offset relation and adapted to be discharged one at a time from the end of the holder to which the particular blade is oriented, the blades being mounted on two pairs of vertical lugs or ribs extending upwardly certain ones of which are engaged through the slots in the respective blades, the lugs being supported on elastic mounts and shaped and arranged in conjunction with the dispenser cover to hold the blades normally against longitudinal movement but capable of flexing downwardly to release the respective blades when a finger is inserted in an opening in the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is in the art of blade holders and particularly in the art of razor blade combined holders and dispensers of the type adapted to contain a stack of blades of the type having a longitudinal central slot and cross bands at each end, the blades being arranged in a stack and the dispenser having an exit at each end at which the blades are alternately dispensed one at a time. In dispensers of this double ended type it has been common to arrange the blades thereon in alternately longitudinally offset relation with overlapping ends and the dispenser being provided with a finger opening in the top whereby the user may engage the top blade with his thumb and push the blade out the exit toward which it is oriented in the stack.

A great variety of means have been employed or proposed for locating the blades in the housing and guiding the individual blades to the appropriate exit. The most common type of such means has employed one or more vertical ribs or lugs over which the slots of the blades are threaded. Associated therewith have been spring means and other expedients intended to restrict the blades against looseness and accidental discharge and various means designed to prevent as far as possible the dispensing of more than one blade at a time. In general in double ended dispensers of this type the vertical ribs have been rigidly mounted and freeing of the blade to permit its discharge has depended upon flexing of other parts.

Many of such prior devices have been complicated or require too many parts, and others have not been as dependable as desired. Still others have been of a character such that they are limited for dependable operation with only a stack of a limited number of blades.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispenser of the present invention has among its objects the remedying in a single economical design of many of the defects or disadvantages of prior devices in cluding those just noted above. It has the desirable characteristics of being easily loaded and assembled. It embodies three parts only, including a main body part which is arranged to provide blade retainer means and has integral side flanges which serve as side walls of the housing, the housing being completed by a top plate and a bot- United States Patent O tom plate each readily snapped into position, the top plate cooperating with side flanges of the main body part to form the chamber for new blades and the bottom plate cooperating with side flanges of the main body part to form a used blade compartment.

Formed integrally with the main body part is an arrangement of four ribs or lugs inlongitudinal alignment each flexibly mounted and the lugs being shaped and related to each other in such a manner as to insure in cooperation with the top plate that the blades are normally held in position and free of looseness but by finger de pression of the appropriate lugs a single blade may be readily dispensed. In this connection the top plate is made elastic and bowed downwardly at its mid portion to maintain pressure on the blade stack to insure against looseness or accidental discharge of a blade. The arrangement is such that the dispenser may be loaded with a few or a large number of blades and will retain and dispense the blades in substantially the same reliable manner from the first to the last blade.

The above objects and advantages, and others as well, will be made more fully apparent from the consideration of a preferred embodiment depicted in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS b FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the dispenser main FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view of the body member taken on the plane III-III of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view taken on the plane IV-IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 4 but shOWing a stack of blades in position and illustrating the manner in which the top cover is applied;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the complete assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the assembled dispenser with a portion of the turned up end of the bottom plate cut away;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view taken on the plane VIIIVIII of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section showing the relation of the parts with a blade being dispensed; and

FIGURE 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane XX of FIGURE 8.

The dispenser in general has three parts comprising a main body part 10, a cover plate 11 and a bottom plate 12. The details of the body member 10 will be first described as 'shown particularly in FIGURES 1 to 4. Preferably, the body member is of molded plastic such as high impact polystyrene. The member 10 functions primarily as a blade retainer and may be referred to as such. It includes a horizontal plate section 13 generally midway between the top and bottom of the size portions 14 and 15. The plate 13 defines an upper new blade chamber and provides a platform upon which the blades are mounted as shown for example in phantom lines in FIGURE 1 and in full lines in FIGURES 7 to 10. The space below the platform 13 provides a used blade compartment as will be described hereinafter. The side walls 14 and 15 are curved horizontally in opposite directions with a wider spacing apart at the mid portion and the inner vertical surfaces of the side walls have undercuts or recesses at the four corners which merge into the sides of slots 16 in plate 13 and form overhanging ledges 16a in the side walls for a purpose to be described shortly. On their outer faces the side walls are provided with horizontally projecting ribs 17 and 18.

The platform 13 is provided with two pairs of upwardly projecting ribs or lugs 20 and 21, and 22 and 23. Each of the four lugs is mounted on a flexible support whereby each may be readily depressed. Each may be independently supported but in the present embodiment they are arranged in pairs, the lugs 20 and 21 being mounted on a common part defined by slots 24 and 25 which merge into a common cross slot at 26 thereby forming a cantilever element 27 supported at substantially the area 28. The rib 20 therefore moves with the part 27 about the pivot area 28. Slots 30 and 31 in the part 27 merge into the common cross slot portion 32, the lug 21 thereby being independently pivotable on the part 27 at approximately the area 33.

The pair of lugs 22 and 23 are mounted on cantilever supports similarly to the pair of lugs 20 and 21 except that they extend in an opposed relation to the pair of lugs 20 and 21.

The dispenser is adapted to accommodate the common type of double edge blade. The blades B are shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1 and in full lines in other figures. Each blade has the usual longitudinally extending central slot 40 terminated by a cross band 41 at each end. The blades are mounted on the lugs in alternately longitudinally offset relation with overlapping inner end areas, the first set being threaded over the lugs 22, 20 and 21 and adapted to be dispensed at the left end of the dispenser as it appears in the various figures, and the second set of blades being threaded over the lugs 20, 22 and 23 and adapted to be discharged at the right end of the dispenser.

After the desired number of blades are positioned on the lugs the cover plate 11 is applied. The cover plate is of elastic material preferably thin sheet steel and is permanently bowed downwardly at the mid portion as indicated for example in FIGURES 6 and 8. The cover plate may be of uniform width but the opposed side walls 14 and 15 of the body member are curved outwardly at the mid portion with the wider space at the mid section corresponding to the width of the cover plate 11. The ends of the cover plate are rolled back up against the bottom surface of the plate as indicated at 42 in FIGURES 8 and 9 and are provided with dimples 42a which insure against the blade edges being damaged by engagement with the rolled ends 42 as they are withdrawn. To receive the ends of the cover plate the inner faces of the side walls 14 and have the recesses 43 above the slots 16 as indicated more clearly in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. The body member 10 has reenforcing end walls 44 depending downwardly from the platform 13 but the end walls are provided with recesses 45 whereby the side walls of the body member 10 may be sprung outwardly above the platform 13 as by applying pressure at the areas indicated by arrows 46 in FIGURE 5. With the side walls so bent, the cover plate may be readily inserted and upon release of the side walls the end corners of the top plate extend into the recesses 43 at the four corners and the top plate is limited in its upward movement by the overhanging ledges 16a, but the mid portion of the cover plate is adapted to flex upwardly to the extent determined by thickness of the stack of blades B, the end portions of the plate 11 being free to move longitudinally of the dispenser to the extent necessary to permit up and down movement of the mid portion.

As indicated clearly in FIGURE 6 the top plate 11 has a central finger opening 47 in which are exposed the middle lugs and 22 and extending outwardly from the opening 47 are opposed slots 48 through which extend upwardly the respective lugs 21 and 23. In general, therefore, the mid portion of the top plate moves downwardly as the stack of blades is depleted and continues to exert a spring pressure on the stack of blades at the mid portion of the dispenser. The arrangement therefore adapts the dispenser for accommodating a wide range of number of blades but nevertheless exerting a spring pressure on the stack of blades regardless of the number which may vary for example from 1 to 20 or even more than 20 depending upon the initial loading of the dispenser.

With the blades arranged in longitudinally staggered relation on the lugs the blades to be dispensed to the left have their rear end bands 41 hooked over the rear square shoulder 22a of the lug 22, and similarly the blades arranged to be dispensed from the right end have their rear end bands 41 hooked over the square shoulder 20a of the lug 20. The arrangement in conjunction with the lugs 21 and 23 extending upwardly through the respective slots 48 insure against accidental escape of blades in shipment of the dispenser or in handling by the user.

Following the assembly of the top plate the bottom plate 12 is assembled. The plate may be of any suitable material and in the present example is comprised of thin sheet metal. The bottom plate 12 has upstanding end wall portions 50 which at their top edges have an inwardly turned flange portion 51 adapted to engage over a ledge 52 formed on the respective end walls 44 of the body member. Since the bottom plate fits between the lower extensions of the side walls it prevents the body member 10 from being flexed and keeps the cover plate 11 from popping out. The bottom plate has a cross slot 53 of suflicient length transverse of the dispenser to receive used blades therethrough, the dispenser having a compartment for used blades defined by the platform 13 of the body member 10 and the bottom plate 12. Transversely the compartment is defined by the longitudinally extending runners or ribs 55 (FIGURES 5 and 10) formed on the bottom of the platform 13. In addition the platform 13 may have longitudinal ribs 56 formed thereon adapted to serve as runners for the inserted used blades.

As indicated more clearly in FIGURE 8 the bottom plate 12 has a flange portion 60 adjacent the blade receiving opening 53 bent upwardly to insure against the inadvertent escape of blades from the used blade compartment. Also the bottom plate has an upwardly extending dimple 61 at each end on its longitudinal axis to deflect the blades upwardly and insure against a blade wedging between the bottom plate and the end Wall or adjacent portions of the side walls.

Having described the construction and relation of the parts in most respects, a description will be given of the operation and functioning in dispensing a blade. Preferably the blades will have on their upper surface suitable markings to indicate the direction in which the particular blade should be urged. As one form of marking the blades may have on their upper surface, or both surfaces, a pair of arrows adjacent each end of the arrows pointing inwardly toward the center of the blade. FIG- URE 6 shows the arrows M located at the right end of the top blade adapted to be dispensed from the left end of the dispenser, the arrows being exposed in the thumb opening 47 of the top plate 11. It will be noted that the lugs 20 and 22 each has its top edge inclined downwardly in each direction from the central peak portion as indicated at 20b and 200 on the lug 20. Also the top edge of lug 21 is inclined inwardly and downwardly as indicated at 21a. Similarly the lug 23 has its top edge inclined downwardly and inwardly as indicated at 23a. Assuming that the top blade B is oriented to be dispensed from the left end as indicated in FIGURES 6, 8 and 9 the user applies finger pressure in the opening 47 of the top plate depressing lugs 22 and 20 and simultaneously urges the blade by friction toward the left. The rear transverse end band 41 of the blade rides up the inclined top surface of the lug 22 and continues on to ride up the inclined edge 20b of the lug 20. By the time the rear cross band 41 leaves the lug 20 a considerable portion extends from the dispenser which may be hand grasped or hooked onto a razor part and the blade pulled free of the dispenser. In such further advance the blade progresses through the position shown in FIGURE 9 in which the cross band 41 rides up the inclined edge 21a of lug 21 depressing the lug from the top plate slot 48 and permitting the blade to be withdrawn from the dispenser as just described, whereupon the lug 21 snaps upwardly again into the slot 48 of the top plate 11. Similar action takes place when the next blade is dispensed to the right involving in that case the lugs 20, 22 and 23.

Various changes may be made in the details of the dispenser particularly disclosed herein and different embodiments of the invention made without departing from the principles thereof and it is intended that all matter contained herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a blade dispenser having right and left dispenser ends, a cover with a finger opening and an elongated blade retainer for holding a stack of blades having a longitudinal slot and transverse end bands; said retainer having a right and a left lug longitudinally aligned, the blades being arranged on the retainer in alternately longitudinally offset relation with overlapping inner ends, a first set of the blades having their slots threaded over the left lug, said left lug having a square shoulder at its outer left end preventing discharge of blades of said first set at the right end, a second set of the blades having their slots threaded over the right lug, said right lug having a square shoulder at its outer right end preventing discharge of blades of said second set at the left end, each of said lugs being elastically mounted whereby the particular lug is depressible to permit the release of a blade thereover.

2. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 having in addition a second left lug arranged inwardly of the first named left lug, and a second right lug arranged inwardly of said first named right lug, all of said lugs being in longitudinal alignment and adapted to receive blades threaded thereover, each of said second lugs being elastically mounted and depressible to release a blade threaded thereover.

3. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said cover is of elastic material and bowed downwardly at its longitudinal midportion to maintain a spring pressure on the stack of blades.

4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which the cover has longitudinal slots arranged to receive therethrough the said left and right lugs respectively.

5. In a blade dispenser for holding a stack of blades of the type having a longitudinal slot and a transverse band at each end, said dispenser being elongated with a blade exit at each end and including a blade retainer and a cover with a finger opening; said retainer having two pairs of lugs all longitudinally aligned and elastically mounted thereon, the blades being arranged on the retainer in alternately longitudinally offset relation, a first set of blades offset toward one end of the dispenser having their slots threaded over the three lugs nearest that end, and a second set of blades offset toward the other end of the dispenser having their slots threaded over the three lugs nearest said other end.

6. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which the lug nearest said one end of the dispenser has shoulder means engageable by the corresponding blade bands preventing movement of the blades of said first set toward the exit at said other end, and the lug nearest said other end of the dispenser has shoulder means engageable by the corresponding blade bands preventing movement of the blades of said second set toward the exit at said one end.

7. A dispenser in accordance with claim 6 in which the end lugs have inner edges inclined inwardly and downwardly over which the rear bands of the blades dispensed thereover may ride depressing the corresponding elastically mounted blade.

8. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 6 in which the cover has a pair of opposed longitudinal slots arranged to receive therein the respective end lugs.

9. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which the third lug from the corresponding end over which a set of blades is threaded has a shoulder means arranged normally to be engaged by the corresponding blade band to prevent movement of a blade toward that end but is depressible to release the top blade of the set for dispensing of the blade.

10. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which the cover is of elastic material bowed downwardly at its longitudinal midportion to maintain spring pressure on the stack of blades and has a pair of opposed longitudinal slots arranged to receive therein the respective end lugs and guide the blades dispensed thereover, and the two inner lugs are exposed at the said finger opening in the cover whereby they may be manually depressed in dispensing a blade.

11. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which the lugs are arranged as a pair at each side of the central portion longitudinally of the dispenser and each lug is inclined downwardly and inwardly at the edge toward the central portion.

12. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 5 in which the lugs are arranged as a pair at each side of the central portion longitudinally of the dispenser and the two lugs of each pair are supported on a common elastic mounting means.

13. A blade dispenser comprising an elongated main body part having a horizontal platform and blade retaining means at the upper surface thereof, said body member having integrally formed therewith at each side edge vertical flanges extending upwardly and downwardly from the plane of said platform, an upper plate secured between the said upwardly extending flanges and adapted to form therewith an upper chamber for enclosing a stack of blades mounted on said retainer means, said upwardly extending flanges being laterally elastic and having formations for engaging and securing the four corners of said plate by lateral deflection of the flanges, and a bottom plate secured to said body member and adapted with said downwardly extending flanges to form a used blade chamber.

14. A blade dispenser in accordance with claim 13 in which said upper plate is of elastic material and generally rectangular and secured to said upwardly extending flanges at the ends of the plate, the midportion being free and normally bowed downwardly to engage the top blade.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,091 3/1964 Kuhnl 206--16 2,899,105 8/1959 Testi 206-46 3,082,862 3/1963 Nicholson et al. 206-16 3,265,198 8/1966 Braginetz et al. 206-16 WILLIAM T. DIXSON, IR., Primary Examiner 

